Popular screening of Iram Haq’s film “What Will People Say”

The event was well attended, and having the screening in a tent outdoors created a special atmosphere. Photo: Jørn Wichne Pedersen

On December 6th, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad screened Iram Haq’s latest film, “What Will People Say”. The event was well attend, with guests from civil society, government agencies and diplomatic missions.

“What Will People Say” is a moving drama about the complex relationship between a father and a daughter. It touches on topics such as immigration and identity, social control and the division of families. The film tells the story of sixteen year-old Nisha, who lives a double life. At home with her family she is the perfect Pakistani daughter, but when out with her friends, she is a normal Norwegian teenager. When her father catches her in bed with her boyfriend, Nisha's two worlds brutally collide. To set an example, Nisha's parents decide to kidnap her and place her with relatives in Pakistan. Here, Nisha is forced to adapt to her parents' culture. Immigration, culture clashes and divided families are all part of the cultural conversation in the movie.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is a filmmaker, journalist and activist. She is known for her work in films that highlight gender inequality, and she is also the honorary consul general for Norway in Karachi. Farzana Bari, is a writer a human rights activist and academic who served as the director of the Gender Studies Department at Quaid-e-Azam University.
Photo:Jørn Wichne Pedersen

The screening was a part of the film festival “Human Rights through Cinematography”, which is organized by the EU and the UN. One of the main shared goals of the festival is to increase knowledge about human rights.

We are thankful to all those who attended the event for making it a memorable night. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Farzana Bari both deserve a special thanks for sharing their thoughts and insights in the discussion that followed the screening.

“What Will People Say” has been selected as the Norwegian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards (the “Oscars” 2019). The film has already triumphed at the Norwegian Amanda Awards, winning the national awards for best director (Iram Haq), best Norwegian film in theatrical release, best actor (Adil Hussain) and best screenplay (Iram Haq).